After a recent influx of mouse reports in residential buildings, the Colorado College housing department is considering contracting an exterminator.
Reports of mice at CC usually increase during the winter months, as mice seek warmth and shelter in residential buildings.
According to Jonothan Stephenson, assistant director of Residential Experience, known as ResX, such reports usually only warrant the use of live traps.
Stephenson acknowledged that a trap is “only effective until it’s not,” saying that places like dark storage closets and unclean dorms can attract rodents regardless of traps.
Sam Rosen ‘28, an residential advisor in Bemis Hall, says multiple residents have moved out of Bemis this year because of mice.
Rene East ‘28, one such resident, said she returned to her room after winter break to find four dead mice in a mouse trap, as well as mouse droppings and urine on her belongings.
“It was in the desk. It was in my makeup. It was all in my dishes,” she said. “They had gotten in the tea that I had – apparently mice like tea. It’s in all the stuffed animals, they’ve chewed into stuff.”
Custodial staff cleaned the room, but East moved out and into a dorm in South Hall.
“Traps are being deployed pretty much every day,” said Stephenson, who pointed out that many non-residential buildings have also recently reported mice.
He added that CC’s maintenance team, which reports to the housing department, is “working towards getting an external exterminator to come in and address these issues.”